March 15, 2026, Lent 4
Psalm 23
Introduction
If you were at Sketti N Skits a couple of weeks ago, you heard my son A.J. share how I am always praying— praying at bedtime, praying at meals, etc. And you heard how I tend to say long prayers. Which consequently resulted in A.J. telling everyone how he never knew what a hot meal was until he got to the Highland Elementary lunchroom.
And while I suppose his exaggerated roasting of his father was rooted in some truth, it is also true that I am capable, and do in fact, say short prayers. For instance… every Sunday before I step out at the start of worship I pray, “Lord be with me.” And every day when I watch my kids get on the bus to school, I pray, “Lord be with her/Lord be with him.” And then sometimes I will break out the ancient Christian prayer known as the Kyrie—which is a heartfelt plea for God’s grace, forgiveness, and divine assistance. The Kyrie is: “Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.”
And then there is the prayer from Julian of Norwich, an English mystic who lived in mid-14th and early 15th centuries. The prayer is recorded in her book Revelations of Divine Love, and stems from visions promising that God’s love will make everything right, even in the face of struggle and suffering. Her prayer is: All shall be well. All shall be well. Every manner of thing shall be well.
And so, on this fourth Sunday of Lent, I want us to take our passage of scripture, and this prayer from Julian of Norwich and use them to help us go into a deeper focus, and make it that we hold on to what these words say, and hear again what they mean, and embrace what they can do.
And I am bringing these two pieces together because the theme of these words— All shall be well— is the thread that runs through today’s psalm.
Move 1
I wonder how many times you’ve said or heard the words of Psalm 23. Of all the psalms I’m confident it’s the best known and many people’s favorite. Its words are familiar and beloved. I suspect most of you know the words, and some of you have even memorized them.
I remember Marjorie Howard telling me how Betty Dowey encouraged her to read Psalm 23 daily, and to commit to memorizing it. An invitation Marjorie took on. And then every day for weeks Marjorie and Betty talked on the phone and together recited the 23rd Psalm. And it was this Psalm that they chose—the Psalm so many of us chose— to know so well because they are words of comfort to us in times of uncertainty. Its words can encourage us and sustain us through sorrows and losses. The words of the 23rd Psalm give enable us to stand bravely when we are afraid, by assuring us there is nothing to fear in the dim valley of death. These words empower us with hope and strength to take our next step, and the next step after that. They remind us there is a way forward when we feel powerless and hopeless. The words of the 23rd Psalm promise us that we never walk alone. And when we take the words of the 23rd Psalm, and add in the prayer of Julian of Norwich, we might just have revealed to us a level of faith we never knew before.
Move 2
As this past week unfolded—here at the church, personally, along with all that is happening around the world— I have found it to be incredibly fortunate that Psalm 23 is the appointed lectionary psalm for today. And I find it fortunate because it is exactly what we need to hear today in the midst of all that is happening.
Because when I look at all that has changed about our life and world; when I acknowledge the uncertainties of our future; when I see and read the reports, latest developments, arguments, deaths; when I think about those who are losing jobs or income; when I wonder how long it will be before there is some… pause… or relief… let alone an end to all that breaks our hearts; when I see news reports of another shooting on a college campus, and another attack on a Jewish synagogue— I don’t want more information and I don’t want more instructions on what to do or not do.
Rather I want to hear words of hope. I want to be reminded that “the Lord is my shepherd” and “I shall not be in want.” I want to be reassured that all shall be well. I want to soak myself in the words of Psalm 23 and let them saturate my soul. I want these words to bring to me the strength to keep moving forward. And I think that’s what all of you want as well.
Move 3
So I want us to do something. I want us to soak ourselves in these sacred words. I want us to follow in the footsteps of the saints of our church who have gone before us—saints like Betty Dowey and Marjorie Howard. I want us to pray the words of Psalm 23 along with the words of Julian of Norwich.
And we’re going to do this in a style called “Lectio Divina”—which means “divine reading.” “Lectio Divina” is a traditional Benedictine, meditative, and prayerful method of reading Scripture designed to foster deeper connection and communion with God. It is often described as “listening with the heart.” Additionally, “Lectio Divina” is done in a way that offers space to breath in God’s word and spirit, and to breath out what is weighing us down.
And so I will read again our psalm for today, one verse at a time, while adding in Norwich’s prayer. And in between each, there will be a few moments of silence. You can close your eyes if you want, or you can turn your focus to the screens where there will be pictures of scripture-based paintings by artist Gustav Dore`. So let us be in an attitude of prayer…
23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. All shall be well. All shall be well. Every manner of thing shall be well.
23:2 The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters… All shall be well. All shall be well. Every manner of thing shall be well.
23:3 The Lord restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. All shall be well. All shall be well. Every manner of thing shall be well.
23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. All shall be well. All shall be well. Every manner of thing shall be well.
23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. All shall be well. All shall be well. Every manner of thing shall be well.
23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.
All shall be well. All shall be well. Every manner of thing shall be well.
Conclusion
We may be at the fourth Sunday of Lent, but there are three weeks until Easter, which is still plenty of time to start, or broaden, a Lenten focus. And maybe that focus can include praying Psalm 23. Pray it when you get up in the morning. Pray it again at noon. And pray it again before you fall asleep.
Pray Psalm 23 for yourself, for each other, for our community, for America, and for the world.
Pray it slowly and deeply—give some time to pause between each verse and allow some silence where you soak in the space of its words, meaning and power.
Whether you pray the verses from memory or from your Bible, or from an app on your phone, pray them like we just did, and then see, and feel, and take in how this practice of prayer impacts you, your day, your heart, head, and spirit. See how it makes you interact with and respond to those around you. See how it can change you by what it brings to you.
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It really is fortunate that Psalm 23 is the psalm appointed for today. It is exactly what we need to hear today… and tomorrow… and the next day, and the day after that. For the words of the 23rd Psalm faithfully reminds us… The Lord is our shepherd. And because the Lord is… All shall be well. All shall be well. Every manner of thing shall be well. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer, March 15, 2026, Lent 4
Gracious God, our Good Shepherd, we come before you today acknowledging that you are the one who guides us. In a world that often feels like it is spiraling out of control, fractured by conflicts, weighed down by worry, and clouded by uncertainty— we rest in the truth that you are the one who restores our souls.
And so we pray O Lord, lead us beside the still waters of your peace. When the noise of the world grows loud and the path ahead seems too dim to follow, remind us that your rod and staff are our true comfort. Bless us with your guidance in all things: in our big decisions, our daily struggles, and our quiet moments of doubt, while helping us to follow your voice above all others.
Give us the courage to be people of deep faith who do not turn away from the dim valleys of this life. When others are lost in the shadows of grief or fear, do not let us retreat into comfort. Instead, call us to walk alongside them, helping our neighbors to know that they, too, have a Shepherd they can trust—one who never leaves their side.
Holy God, we cling to the promise that even as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we need not fear. And we know this promise is constantly being fulfilled because you are with us, and because your love never fails. Which empowers us to trust you fully, and know we can echo the faithful words of Julian of Norwich: All shall be well. All shall be well. Every manner of thing shall be well.
So as we prepare to step out into the world, to share this Good News, prepare a table for us in the midst of the chaos, anoint us with your grace until our cups overflow, so that we might be beacons of hope to a world in need. And may Your goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives, until we dwell in your house forever and ever.
Please hear now the prayers of our hearts, lifted to you in this time of Holy Silence.
All this we pray in the name of our shepherd, Jesus the Christ, who taught us to pray saying, “Our…”